Chapter 920: The People’s Choice

Emma Watson? Sophie Brook?

Lu Ke felt like he was catching a clue. The answer to a question seemed to be on the tip of his tongue, but he still couldn’t quite figure it out. Just as he was about to think about it, all the clues vanished.

But Lu Ke didn’t care. If he couldn’t remember, it probably wasn’t important. He looked up, meeting Leigh Steinberg’s meaningful gaze. "You know what? You look like a member of the Kardashian family right now, a butler or a driver or something. As soon as you smell gossip, you get as excited as a fighting rooster."

"The reason Emma chose my name is actually simple. I’m probably the only football player she knows. Or maybe she knows Tom Brady, but this event is just a test run, and Brady is too big for this. So the league didn’t consider him, and his name isn’t on the list." Lu Ke gave a light and accurate answer.

Leigh nodded slightly, showing he understood, and said, "A butler or a driver? I thought I’d at least be a core member like a lawyer."

"..." Lu Ke’s head was filled with a row of question marks. That’s not the point, is it?

Walking and chatting, Lu Ke and Leigh arrived at the VIP room.

After knocking and opening the door, they were greeted by a bustling crowd. There were not only Jed York and Gideon Yu but also several other executives from the San Francisco 49ers whom Lu Ke had only heard about but never seen. There was also a large group of important league officials from the public relations, media, operations, and events departments.

The endless stream of people was overwhelming, and the event was much grander and more formal than his last one with Rolex. This showed how much the league valued the female fan market.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

The league’s main goal wasn’t just to get female fans to watch the games on TV; it was to get them to support the sport of football.

As mentioned before, to an outsider, football seemed to be synonymous with violence, with keywords like concussions, legal hits, and excessive violence always lingering, making people hesitant to get into it. In recent years, professional football players have also been linked to domestic violence and other violent crimes.

This has made many women oppose football. This was very detrimental to the NFL’s global expansion.

So, the league has been working hard to repair its image, trying to tell female fans that football is a sport that combines strength and intelligence, and it’s just as worthy of support as soccer, basketball, and boxing. As for the violent behavior, it’s just individual players’ actions and can’t be generalized.

Now, the league is very strict with punishments for domestic violence and other violent crimes. Once a player is found guilty, even if the woman is the only one who filed the lawsuit, the league’s attitude is to not tolerate it. Not only will the player be suspended by the league, but the thirty-two teams will also often unite.

If a player is confirmed to have committed domestic violence, the team might just issue a fine and keep it quiet for the first or second time, and strictly control the player’s personal life. But in serious cases, or if the player is a repeat offender, the team might just terminate the contract, and other teams are usually reluctant to sign them.

From top to bottom, the entire league is united in taking a stand. Because this is an important matter that affects the collective interests of the entire sport and the global market. Everyone wants a piece of this pie, so everyone is united. In fact, this is one of the reasons why Roger Goodell has always been able to get the support of the team owners. He is never vague when it comes to key interests.

Therefore, the 49ers’ executives took this seriously. It was a great honor for their player to be a part of it, and it was also great for the team’s image. The league’s top officials also attended, and various departments gave it high importance, working together to achieve a common goal.

In such a setting, Lu Ke and Emma had no time to talk alone. They just greeted each other and exchanged a few pleasantries, and then other guests showed up, and Leigh had to make introductions again.

Naturally, there was no drama or sparks between the two of them.

But Gideon did get a chance to have a deep conversation with Lu Ke.

Even though he had been in the United States for over twenty years, Gideon’s English still had a strong accent, with a unique Korean pronunciation that showed his background. Of course, his long, narrow eyes were also a distinctive Korean feature. His ordinary appearance still made him recognizable.

"I can finally breathe a little easier now. Before, when I talked to my friends about football, they didn’t understand what I was talking about. They still liked soccer. But now it’s different. When I talk about football, all I have to do is mention the name ’Bambi,’ and everything is solved."

Gideon was a straightforward person, and you could tell from his conversation. The calmness and efficiency of a self-made man were still mixed in with his every move.

In terms of first impressions, Jed York was more like an elite. After all, he was a second-generation rich kid, and his upbringing was different. Gideon Yu, on the other hand, was more approachable and down-to-earth. You could imagine him working hard to build his wealth, taking over twenty years to get to where he was now. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Lu Ke looked surprised. "Did you like football before?"

"In college, when I was at Stanford, the ’National Derby’ between the 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys was a big event. The whole school would get excited. To not be an outcast, joining my classmates was the best option. I’ve liked this team ever since then," Gideon said casually.

Lu Ke laughed heartily. Seeing Gideon’s confused expression, he explained, "I started playing sports because I wanted to fit in. Since my school didn’t have basketball, I chose football."

Across twenty years, Lu Ke and Gideon were two different generations, but they found a common ground. Their similar memories, experiences, and feelings immediately brought them closer.

Even though Gideon’s investment in the 49ers had nothing to do with Lu Ke directly, it was undeniable that seeing an Asian player in the league was special to Gideon.

"The game today was very exciting. I’m not talking about the score, but the few battles you had with the defense. As a quarterback, your performance is truly commendable." Gideon said simply. His words weren’t very original, but his eyes sparkled with the light of a fan, the excitement and passion of someone who truly understood the game.

Then, Gideon shook Lu Ke’s right hand again and said with a smile, "I think you are the most suitable person for this event, and the league takes it very seriously. Good luck!"

Their brief conversation ended there. Then, other guests came over. Gideon and Lu Ke nodded to each other, and then he turned and walked away, giving Lu Ke some space to talk.

Even though the conversation was short, Gideon left a good impression on Lu Ke. In the world of professional football, it was not easy to meet an Asian executive who truly understood the game.

After that, Jed York and Roger Goodell came over together. After some pleasantries, Goodell joked, "We’re entrusting the young female fan market to you. After Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, you’re the new face of the league."

"I hope the league doesn’t make any official announcements with those keywords. Otherwise, I’ll be getting a lot of angry letters for a while." Lu Ke’s witty response made both Roger and Jed smile.

On a side note, the four players chosen so far don’t have any negative off-field news, and they all have their own unique styles. This is crucial for a promotional campaign.

"The rest is up to you. Trent and I both think you’re the most suitable person. We all hope you can become a banner for San Francisco." This was Jed’s comment. It was sincere and full of meaning, but it was impossible to tell how much was flattery and how much was true.

The meeting in the VIP room lasted for almost forty minutes, and Lu Ke was finally able to leave. Even though there was no intense exercise or contact, Lu Ke’s clean jersey was already soaked with sweat. After this experience, Lu Ke was even more convinced that he belonged on the training field.

The next morning, Lu Ke woke up early as usual. After his morning run, Vincent Camp and Leigh Steinberg arrived at his apartment door and drove Lu Ke out of the city toward Stanford University. The recording studio for today’s show was there.

When they arrived, the studio was already bustling with people, and Lu Ke thought he was late. He looked a little nervous.

Leigh chuckled. "I thought nothing could ever get you flustered."

"I’m not Superman," Lu Ke laughed awkwardly, feeling a little more relaxed. A night game and a TV show were two completely different things, and it wasn’t Lu Ke’s area of expertise, so it was inevitable to be a little nervous.

Leigh explained, "When you’re recording a TV show, if you need makeup, you have to arrive early. If you don’t, you can come a little later. It’s not a big deal. You’re the latter."

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